I was sitting on the couch at Jethro’s flat in Wellington, watching something on TV. It was a Saturday night. I think we’d just finished dinner. We were still in the phase of getting to know each other – we’d been ‘official’ for just under a month.

My phone rang. It was mum. I picked it up. She immediately asked if Jethro was there with me. Yes, I said. Why? I could hear something in her voice. I asked what’s wrong?

It’s been an interesting year. How can it not when a pipe bursts your first day of home ownership? That was a learning experience. I don’t think I ever blogged about that – most people who know me IRL have heard the story. It’s a pretty simple one, but something I will never forget. Having only taken possession of the keys a few hours earlier I wondered what the hushing sound coming from the dining/kitchen area was. At first I thought it was nature! Because we have a lot of trees, birds and other things around. But no. Thus began the hunt for the toby of which we have two and the one by the house apparently doesn’t turn off all water. The real one is at the top of our 38m long path. Yay for dux quest (not).

Since then, owning a house has been a bit easier, but still one massive learning experience.